IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. MP(M) No. 518 of 2026 Reserved on: 16.04.2026 Date of Decision: 28.04.2026.

Pankaj @ Panku …. Petitioner Versus State of HP …. Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No.

For the Petitioner : Mr Umesh Knawar, Advocate.

For the Respondents : Mr Lokender Kutlehira, Additional Advocate General.

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The petitioner has filed the present petition for seeking regular bail in FIR No. 35 of 2024, dated 01.03.2024, registered for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station Palampur, District Kangra, H.P.

2. It has been asserted that, as per the prosecution, the police were on patrolling duty on 1.03.2024 at about 5:45 PM at

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

Ram Chowk, when they received secret information that Shashi Kumar @ Ashu and his elder brother Deepak Kumar, and Pankaj Kumar @ Panku (petitioner) were selling heroin from their house, and a huge quantity of heroin could be recovered by the search of the house. The police went to the roo